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FILE - In this May 16, 2019, file photo, NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson, center, talks with Will Power, left, of Australia, and Josef Newgarden during practice for the Indianapolis 500 IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. NASCAR seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson will test an Indy car next week on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He’s long said he is open to racing in the series but did not want to compete on ovals out of safety concerns. On Friday, July 3, 2020, he indicated recent safety improvements have softened his stance and the Indianapolis 500 is not entirely out of the picture(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Knocked out of Brickyard, Johnson copes at home with virus

By Michael Marot Jul. 04, 2020 01:32 PM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, May 19, 2006 file photo, Indy Racing League driver Townsend Bell dons his helmet before practicing for the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. NBC Sports analyst Townsend Bell will have his own unique double duty Saturday, July 4, 2020 when he calls the IndyCar race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and then flies to Daytona International Speedway to compete in the IMSA sports car race. (AP Photo/Tom Strattman, File)
Bell to commentate and race on same day in different states

By Jenna Fryer Jul. 02, 2020 05:06 PM EDT

FILE - In this June 10, 2017, file photo, Will Power, of Australia, pumps his fist as he crosses the finish line under yellow to win an IndyCar auto race at Texas Motor Speedway, in Fort Worth, Texas. IndyCar is getting ready for an all-in-one-day season opener on the fast track in Texas, more than 2 ½ months after drivers were set to roll on the streets of St. Pete. The pandemic-delayed season is now set to open Saturday, June 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)
IndyCar ready to race after pandemic delayed start of season

By Jenna Fryer Jun. 04, 2020 11:18 AM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2019, file photo, New Jersey Devils right wing Kurtis Gabriel works out prior to an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres in Newark, N.J. The NHL is hoping to move to Phase 2 of its return-to-play protocol, including the opening of practice facilities and allowing small group workouts, early next month. The league, which was forced to pause its season on March 12 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, released a 22-page memo detailing the plan Monday, May 25, 2020. The document stresses there's no exact date for the start of Phase 2 or a timetable for how long it will last. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
The Latest: NHL players will get daily tests if play resumes

By The Associated Press May. 26, 2020 10:52 AM EDT

Cars approach the starting line in front of empty stands to start the NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, May 17, 2020, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Networks have strong showing during busy sports weekend

By Joe Reedy May. 19, 2020 06:51 PM EDT

NBC says 2.35 million viewers for live golf's return to TV

May. 18, 2020 08:14 PM EDT
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The return of live golf to television brought 2.35 million viewers across all platforms, which NBC Sports says was 16% higher than the...

The supporter's entrance of the Signal Iduna Park, Germany's biggest stadium of Borussia Dortmund, is closed in Dortmund, Germany, Thursday, May 14, 2020. Bundesliga will now restart on May 16, 2020 when Borussia Dortmund will play the derby against FC Schalke 04 at home without spectators due to the coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
The Latest: Aussie rules football to kick off on June 11

By The Associated Press May. 14, 2020 01:04 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 18, 2016, file photo, NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon, left, speaks to the media as announcer Mike Joy, right, listens during a news conference before practice for the Daytona 500 Sprint series auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. NASCAR will have a much different feel when it resumes this weekend as the two-man broadcast team for Fox will not travel to Darlington Raceway and instead call the race from a studio in Charlotte. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Safety protocols include Fox calling NASCAR race from studio

By Jenna Fryer May. 13, 2020 04:01 PM EDT

Newman says he will be ready to race when NASCAR resumes

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 26, 2020 01:24 PM EDT
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Ryan Newman said he will be ready to race when NASCAR resumes competition, which could be as early as May 17. Newman...

FILE - In this Feb. 13, 2020, file photo, William Byron celebrates after winning the second of the two NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying auto races at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Byron won his second consecutive NASCAR virtual race Sunday, April 19, 2020, by holding off Timmy Hill — the driver who moved him out of the way to win an earlier iRacing event — in a race finally low on dramatics. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Byron wins 2nd NASCAR virtual race in a drama-free event

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 19, 2020 03:40 PM EDT

Gates stand locked outside the closed Manchester City Etihad Stadium, in Manchester, northern England, as the English Premier League soccer season has been suspended due to coronavirus, Thursday, April 9, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
The Latest: Scully ponders when opening day will arrive

By The Associated Press Apr. 17, 2020 01:09 PM EDT

FILE - In this July 14, 2005, file photo, Team Sweden pulls during the men Tug of War competition at the World Games in Duisburg, Germany. Joining the array of postponed events in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, officials announced Thursday that the 11th edition of the World Games in Birmingham, Alabama will now be held in the summer of 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, File)
The Latest: NASCAR delays next generation car until 2022

By The Associated Press Apr. 02, 2020 05:27 PM EDT

IndyCar driver Tony Kanaan, of Brazil, practices on his racing simulator in his home in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 28, 2020. Kanaan, along with other IndyCar drivers and NASCAR's Jimmie Johnson will compete in the series' inaugural virtual racing event Saturday. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
IndyCar goes iRacing as latest series to offer fans content

By Jenna Fryer Mar. 28, 2020 05:47 PM EDT

The areas around the track and grandstands are nearly empty at the IndyCar Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Friday, March 13, 2020 in St. Petersburg. NASCAR and IndyCar have postponed their weekend schedules at Atlanta Motor Speedway and St. Petersburg, due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times via AP)
IndyCar goes virtual racing as it waits to get back on track

By Jenna Fryer Mar. 26, 2020 10:08 AM EDT

FILE - In this Monday, Feb. 17, 2020 file photo,Denny Hamlin celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. NASCAR eased off the brake in the real sports world brought to a sudden halt by the coronavirus and introduced the country to iRacing with some of the sports biggest stars. Hamlin, the three-time Daytona 500 winner, beat Dale Earnhardt Jr. off the final corner Sunday, March 22, 2020 at virtual Homestead-Miami Speedway to win the bizarre spectacle. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
Barefoot Hamlin wins virtual Homestead as NASCAR races again

By Jenna Fryer Mar. 22, 2020 04:37 PM EDT

A general view of Wembley Stadium in London, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. UEFA has formally proposed postponing the 2020 European Championship for one year because of the coronavirus outbreak. The Norwegian soccer association says the new tournament dates will be June 11 to July 11. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
The Latest: Browns Larry Ogunjobi donating 100,000 meals

By The Associated Press Mar. 20, 2020 10:10 AM EDT

Dylan Blackthorn boards up Hillside Farmacy restaurant right before the Texas Gov. Greg Abbott bans gatherings, shuts down restaurants, bars, schools on Thursday, March 19, 2020. (Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
The Latest: Pro Motocross cancels season-opening event

By The Associated Press Mar. 19, 2020 11:21 AM EDT

Greensboro Coliseum is mostly empty after the NCAA college basketball games were cancelled at the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Greensboro, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2020. The biggest conferences in college sports all canceled their basketball tournaments because of the new coronavirus, seemingly putting the NCAA Tournament in doubt. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Networks get through first weekend with taped programming

By Joe Reedy Mar. 15, 2020 06:44 PM EDT

Fans and media watch during an NCAA college basketball game between North Carolina and Syracuse at the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Greensboro, N.C., Wednesday, March 11, 2020. The ACC announced it will close the remainder of its men's basketball tournament to spectators, beginning with Thursday's quarterfinals, amid the emerging threat of the spread of the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
The Latest: ACC tourney preparing for games without fans

By The Associated Press Mar. 11, 2020 04:43 PM EDT

Clint Bowyer gets ready for a NASCAR auto race practice at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Ready for closeup? NASCAR funnyman Bowyer expands Fox gig

By Mark Long Feb. 15, 2020 02:16 AM EST